Last Updated: Sept. 24, 2020
With construction considered an essential service in B.C., the City of Coquitlam has introduced a number of temporary measures to help keep construction and housing projects on track while continuing to support public health.
In addition to the measures detailed below, the City offers a number of online eServices to support business transactions with the City.
Coquitlam has temporarily relaxed its sign regulations to help businesses more easily publicize key information related to the pandemic.
The temporary exemptions will mean businesses do not need to apply for a sign permit, pay fees or adhere to limits on the sign area (excluding sandwich board signs), time period and number of temporary signs that provide pandemic-related information such as:
The temporary signs may not be used to advertise products, services or pricing, and businesses are expected to keep the signs organized, maintained in a professional manner and installed safely.
Sandwich boards must remain on the business property and are not permitted on sidewalks or other public rights-of-way unless approved through a formal sign application.
The temporary exemptions will be revisited at the end of 2021.
The City has established a simple, expedited process to help Coquitlam businesses set up temporary patios and outdoor spaces to help support their business recovery during the pandemic. Visit the program page for additional information including the application guidelines and FAQs. Or contact us for more information.
New applications are to be submitted through the City’s file transfer service, Coquitlam QFile:
Note - the same type of documents are to be submitted as one set. For example users will submit one Architectural set rather than individual pages.
To submit documents for a new project, see our video tutorial.
To re-submit documents for the existing project, see our video tutorial.
When delivering or dropping off any letters or drawings to the Planning and Development Department, please clearly indicate on the front of the item:
City Hall is currently open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and closed on all Statutory Holidays.
If you have items for drop-off you may come to City Hall. If you plan to drop off items after hours, you may use the City Hall drop box in the ground level parkade off of Burlington Drive. However, this drop box is only for small items.
City Hall is currently open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and closed on all Statutory Holidays. Please ensure the person sent for pickup has a staff name as a reference for contact, an address for the property involved and / or project number.
The Development Application Process Review (DAPR) is a top-level priority in the annual business plan and supports the City’s strategic goal of Excellence in City Governance. With the aim of enhancing all aspects of the application process, the work has entailed a detailed review and update of workflows, steps, timelines, tools, standards and associated guidelines and policies.
The DAPR efforts build on in-house expertise with best practices and industry feedback. This has included quarterly meetings between the City and Urban Development Institute, along with a four-session Developer Forum workshop series in 2019 and 2020/2021. Coquitlam also helped form Municipal Innovators Community - West, a network of public servants across Metro Vancouver that meets to share innovative process improvements, best practices and lessons learned. Coquitlam hosted the most recent virtual session held in June 2021.